Images credits: River Basins for Sustainable Development
The Isabela State University (ISU) continuously raises its banner as a leading institution for regional and national development as it teams up with its international partners from the Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Japan, to future-proof water resources and dam management in the Cagayan Valley Region. With the strong nexus of ISU, spearheaded by Prof. Ricmar P. Aquino, University President, and through the numerous international R&D collaborative projects implemented by Prof. Orlando F. Balderama, Vice President for Research and Development, Extension and Training, the University’s international partners visited the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela on January 22-28, 2024, to emphasize the importance of designing synergistic strategies for sustainable water resources and dam management under extreme climate variability.
The Japanese experts engaged in a series of academic and technical sessions to gather necessary data for the decision support system for dam optimization and introduced the newly approved Japan-Philippine Nexus Program on Water Security, an international R&D project funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), led by Prof. Sameh Ahmed Kantoush (Kyoto University – Japanese team) and Prof. Jeoffrey Lloyd R. Bareng (Isabela State University – Philippine team).
Initially, Prof. Kantoush, presented the joint R&D accomplishments of Kyoto University and Isabela State University during the 241st Special Board Meeting on January 22, 2025, at The Maximillian Hotel, Cauayan City, Isabela. His presentation underscored the long-standing collaborative partnership of ISU and Kyoto University in pioneering innovations in integrated water resources management. He also sought the support of the highest governing and decision-making body of the ISU system for the newly approved Japan-Philippine Nexus Program, which the body strongly approved.
Images credits: River Basins for Sustainable Development
Furthermore, the team also met with the managers of the four divisions of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) – MARIIS, along with the top R&D officials of ISU, Dr. Balderama and Dr. Bareng. This convergence aimed to secure the long-term commitment and significant contribution of NIA as a key partner for the successful implementation of the Nexus project, as it is the prime government agency that will benefit from this joint international R&D initiative. Essentially, Prof. Kantoush highlighted flood control measures in his presentation during the meeting, while Dr. Nguyen Quang Binh, Professor at The University of Danang – University of Science and Technology, emphasized the need for a decision support system for sustainable dam and reservoir operations. Additionally, Engr. Jerome Gacu, a PhD student at Kyoto University, identified reservoir sedimentation as a challenge to river basin sustainability in the Philippines and proposed sedimentation strategies appropriate for the distinct nature of local dams.
In addition, the team visited the Cagayan River Basin Management Council (CRBMC), particularly Isabela Governor Rodolfo T. Albano III, as well as the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) – Regional Office in Tuguegarao City on January 23 and 24, 2025, respectively, for a courtesy call and to request relevant data for the newly approved international project. They also asked Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan for pertinent data to validate initial reports and damage assessments of recent typhoons that devastated the Northern Luzon region. Moreover, Prof. Mohamed Saber, an Associate Professor from Kyoto University, presented the need to develop an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered flood hazard map, which will be one of the outcomes of the Japan-Philippine Nexus R&D project. Prof. Kantoush supplemented the previous presentation by emphasizing the urgent need to implement flood management projects and mitigation measures for urban development.
To further understand the topographical conditions and situations of inundated areas in the Cagayan Valley Region, the ISU-Kyoto University R&D Team conducted a series of field surveys in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan Segment 1, Ganano Sub-Watersheds, Addalam Watershed, and the municipalities of Cauayan, Angadanan, Echague, Jones, and Magat Dam in Ramon, Isabela, at different timelines to gather flood depth information and subsequently generate hazard or risk maps to support a decision-making system for early warning signals.
Images credits: River Basins for Sustainable Development
These R&D initiatives of ISU with its international partners attest to the University’s significant role as a driving force behind research breakthroughs in integrated water resources management and dam and reservoir optimization, thereby contributing to regional and national advancement and ensuring a sustainable environment and energy for the countryside.
Images credits: River Basins for Sustainable Development